Mikhail Vasilievich Lomonosov as a fighter for truth

At the beginning of the 18th century, foreigners appeared in large numbers in Russia, who soon occupy key positions in the state, and primarily in science, in particular historical. G.F. Miller, A.L. Schlozer, G.Z. Bayer and some others, being the "creators of Russian history", will subsequently even become academicians. This they will tell us about the Norman theory, about Russian culture, which arose only after the Baptism of Russia and much more. Not all Russian scientists agreed with their presentation of the material. The main opponent was Mikhail Vasilievich Lomonosov,

Mikhail Vasilievich Lomonosov is a Russian genius who left a mark in almost all the existing sciences and industries. And in historical studies, he was the main opponent of the German "academics", arguing, "that the Slavic people were in the present Russian borders even before the Nativity of Christ, then it can undoubtedly be proved."

Now it’s fashionable to say that he was not a professional historian. Well, so history as science at that time was only being formed. But Lomonosov already studied the affairs of bygone days, using historical research methods, including periodization, relying on sources, the principles of selection of which he also described. So all this allows us to talk about Mikhail Vasilyevich as a historian.

In front of his eyes, foreigners, contrary to common sense, created their "Russian" history, and Lomonosov did not put up with this. He criticized their works and began to study the issue himself, leaving for this the department of chemistry.

Moreover, the formation of the notorious Germans raised his doubts. Bayer, for example, who invented the "Norman theory", was a specialist in philology: he first studied the "godmothers" of Christ, and then turned his attention to China. Miller was never able to graduate, which did not prevent him from specializing in ethnography and economics. Schlozer studied at the theological faculty, and his dissertation was entitled "On the Life of God." He later studied medicine. Moreover, they all did not speak Russian very well.

So what could they say about Russian history? And what to this day we study at school. Alas!..

In contrast to these "scientists", Lomonosov, in addition to his native Russian, was fluent in Latin, spoke good German and read in Greek. The knowledge of languages ​​allowed Mikhail Vasilyevich to thoroughly study both domestic and foreign sources, including the Pskov Chronicle, the Kiev Pechersk Paterik and many others.

The result of painstaking work was the work “A Brief Russian Chronicler with a Genealogy” and “On the Preservation and Reproduction of the Russian People”.

The German professor was extremely dissatisfied with Lomonosov’s research, and a program began to discredit the scientist and his discoveries. First, Elizabeth, and then Catherine was carefully processed, calling Mikhail Vasilyevich "a rude ignoramus who knew nothing but his annals." Well, he relied on ancient manuscript sources, but what are they on? In general, the result of foreign policy in science was that, as modern researchers have calculated, in more than a hundred years there were only three Russian academicians in the Russian Academy of Sciences - M.V. Lomonosov, Ya.O. Yartsov, N.G. Ustryalov.

And all this time, foreigners wrote our history, and all the archives and documents were under their jurisdiction, and it is not known how they disposed of them. Lomonosov lamented in this regard: "There is nothing to protect. Everything is open to Schlätzer the extravagant."

For the time being, Russian experts silently looked at imported dominance. The first could not stand the inventor A.K. Nartov wrote a complaint to the Senate; he was supported by many members of the Academy of Sciences. And what would you think? Activists were sent to prison, one was executed, the rest were sent to Siberia, but the foreign leadership of the Academy was awarded.

Lomonosov also came under repression, although he did not formally participate in this mess: he was arrested for seven months, convicted, but released from punishment. Even during the life of a scientist, Schlozer wanted to take his archive, but then it did not work. But only Mikhail Vasilyevich died, all the documents stored in his office disappeared. By order of Catherine II, they were taken out of his house and settled in no one knows where. Now the Norman theory had no opponents, and it was firmly rooted in our minds …